concoursec | Gotta hit the ground dancin'

Character(s): Tom Bronson, Oli Westcliffe
Location: The DAN 101 ballroom
Rating: PG at most
Open/Closed/Finished: Closed!
Summary: Two old buddies catch up on old times! Aaand Tommy's getting some badly-needed dance lessons since he barely passed the first time.

If it weren't for the fact that Oli - no surprise, of course - taught DAN 101, Tom knew that he wouldn't have bothered to stop by the classroom. But as it was, he was impressed with himself for a) bothering to read the memos Headmaster sent out and b) actually attempting to step into the classroom after his so-called "epic failures" in the ballroom.

Still, part of him couldn't help grinning as he leaned against the wall and waited for the class to end. Once all these kids headed out towards lunch, he'd have time to catch up and talk to someone he hadn't seen in nearly forever. Part of him immediately felt bad for not sending out letters, but he supposed it was better to talk to Oli in person than through snail mail anyways.

The kids couldn't leave fast enough. The minute they packed up their bags and headed out, Tom wove through the crowd and waved energetically at his friend, "Hey!" He called, his happiness somewhat contagious, "Oli! Got a moment?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Well before we do anything I need to take a shower. I do smell a little ripe after three hours of teaching dance." He says standing abruptly and picking up his bag. "Gimme ten minutes? We'll grab a bite and really catch up." He says tossing his towel into the bag.

"We can hit the 'secret spot' so you can have a secret ciggy? I may even partake and cough elaborately in an attempt to inspire crippling guilt for starting me on such a filthy habit." He said with a wink heading towards the ballroom door, his keys jangling in his hand.

"Out ya go. Gotta lock up." He said, finding the big pretty key.

Being kicked out already? Tom tried to hide his relief - thank god he wasn't getting dance lessons off the bat - as he rose to his feet and started to walk alongside him. "Sounds good to me," He nodded. What could he do in ten minutes? Snag a trade from the library and read it twice? (Once a comic book nerd, always a comic book nerd, it seemed.)

"I'm actually good concerning the smokes," Tom grinned, pumping his fist. "Doc put me on nicotine gum, so I've been trying that... on and off." What he meant was, 'it worked on the days he remembered he had it.'

He gives a laugh and a wink and locks up. "You didn't have to look so relieved. I would only have taken you for another spin." He grinned slyly, flicking the lock and looking his friend.

"Why don't you go get the food? I want something spicy chickeny. Oh! Put it in bread. It's called a baguette in France. or French bread. Please? I'll make it worth your while." He said heading towards the shower.

Ah man, and he thought he was getting better at acting! Tom could only give a sheepish grin in response as he started to head towards the cafeteria. Baguette... he could do that, no problem.

"Yeah, no problem," Tom replied, humming thoughtfully under his breath. "Meet me in the Quad when you're done? I'll get us a table and everything." (Well, he would've said the Cafeteria, but the weather was too nice to sit inside.)

Oli walks out into the quad, his hair still damp from the shower. He hasn't bothered to do up his shirt either, and has a towel around his neck. He walks towards Tom with a smile.

"Hey. I see you got the goods!" He grins tossing his hair with a chuckle. "God I'm hungry. But eating something actually tasty before three hours of dancing causes stomach cramps. So it's cereal or a salad or something." His voice tainted as if having to eat salad was the worst thing about dancing.

"I hope you got something for yourself." He said with a smile.

Pushing the sandwich (and baked potato chips) in Oli's direction, Tom returns the grin as he gestures towards his own burger and carrot sticks. Granted, he knew that he should've probably eaten something slightly healthier, considering that he had Boxing this afternoon. Well, whatever, he'd deal when it came time for that.

"I wouldn't forget myself. I'm not much for spice, so you can blame me if it's bland for you," He joked, taking a bite out of a carrot stick. After a moment, he added, "But it's pretty much the same for fighting classes. I might regret this burger later."

Oli surveys his baguette and takes a bite. His eyes widen a little bit but he chews cheerily. "Top Cat still makes a top sandwich and you should do it more often. In fact, you should just be my personal sandwich chef." Oli jested, chomping down another bite.

"Hey, I teach fighting too you know. But my martial arts don't really require me to keep my core firm." He noted, cracking open the bag of potato chips and putting a few into the baguette too. "I'll massage any cramps out, I'm an expert." He grinned. "I'll even use the smaller sledge hammer cause you're my friend."

So he hadn't lost his touch! Tom couldn't help humming under his breath. Funny how he inherited bad habits from his friends after he was no longer in their presence... Maxine would've probably laughed at him if she could see him. "Your wish is my command," He joked, "All you have to do is ask. It's not that hard, man."

... And that was one memo he missed. (Darn those pesky notices.) Tom made a face, "Seriously? ... I missed that memo. As usual." One of these days, he'd actually read all the memos and be informed. Alas, today was simply not that day.

"Aww, I'm touched. And here I thought I was going to get the large one."

"Yeah. Martial arts. Someone's gotta teach these pansies that there is no such thing as a Karate Chop." He grins and takes another large bite of his sandwich, gesturing that Tom shouldn't go anywhere because after this bite there was an important thing he had to know.

"And wishes are my commands are they?" a mischievous grin spread across his lips. "Well! We'll see about that." He continued, chomping another giant bite out of his baguette.

"So." He said through his mouthful. "Did you meet anyone out on your big whatever-you-were-doing?" He grinned.

Wait what. How did this conversation jump from sandwich making to him meeting a girl? Tom nearly choked on his burger. How did he...? Was this even a relevant question? Furrowing his eyebrows, he reached for his water bottle and nearly guzzled it down in one sip.

"What?" He asked, trying not to sound as confused as he was, "Not... really?"

Granted, he still had a crush on someone, but his not-so-secret crush on Sharpay was obvious to pretty much everyone but her, and Tom was convinced it wasn't going to go anywhere as it was. "There were like, drunken make-out sessions, but it wasn't anything serious or 'write-home-worthy.'"

Gotta hit the ground dancin'

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

--QUAD--

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject